Valve



B. F. RANDEL June 1, 1937.

VALVE Filed April 4, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet l II II INVENTOR BY Bo FOLKE RANDEL ATTORNEY B. F. RANDEL VALVE Filed April 4, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEINTOR BY Bo FOLKE RANDEL.

ATTORNEY Jupe 1, 1937.

I 4 a 2 l E I I T M F! June 1, 1937. B. F. RANDEL 2,031,955

VALVE Filed April 4, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Bo Fo\ KE RANDEL.

TIE E 0 m & i l mw ATTORNEY Patented June 1, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) This invention relates to valves and it has a particular relation to flush valves employed in water closet installations.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of a valve of the character described which is opened manually but closed automatically by the pressure of the water after a predetermined quantity of water has passed therethrough.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a valve embodying means for delivering a predetermined volume of water to the bowl at the conclusion of the flushing operation and after the valve is closed so as to fill the trap of the bowl.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a flush valve having a bleed valve which is opened prior to the opening of the main valve portion so as to relieve the water pressure tending to hold the valve closed.

With these and other objects in View, as well as other advantages that may be incident to the use of the improvements, the invention consists in the parts and combinations thereof hereinafter set forth and claimed, and with the understanding that the several necessary elements constituting the same may be varied in proportion and arrangement Without departing from the nature and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

In order to make the invention more clearly understood, there are shown in the accompanying drawings, means for carrying the invention into practical use, without limiting the improvements in their useful application to the particular construction, which, for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a valve structure embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a modified form of piston valve for timing the flow of water;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the valve shown in Fig. 2;

' Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View through "another form of valve structure embodying the invention;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

' Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a still further embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 88 of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 thereof, a flush valve constructed in accordance with the invention is shown as comprising a cylindrical member it! which is closed at its lower end by a cap ll formed with a well portion l2 and at its upper end by a cap [3 constituting one end of a pipe l4 of inverted U-shape, the other end of which is adapted to be connected by suitable piping with a water closet. The member ID is formed intermediate its ends with an annular flange l5 which divides the interior thereof into an upper outlet chamber l6 and a lower inlet chamber ll communicating with one another through a restricted opening 13, the chamber l'l being adapted to be connected with a source of water supply through a nipple i9. Communication between the upper chamber l5 and the pipe I4 is controlled by a valve member 263 engageable with a seat 2| formed on the cap l3 and is normally maintained closed by the pressure of the Water in the member in. This valve is formed with a curved upper surface 22 merging with a valve stem 23 which is pivotally connected with an arm 24 fixed to a rock shaft 25. The shaft 25 is journalled in the pipe I4 and is provided with a handle 26 by means of which the valve 20 may at times be opened against the pressure of the water in order to flush the closet. The valve 20 is also provided with a downwardly extending guide rod 21 which projects through an opening formed in a flanged cup 28 connected with the member Ill by spaced arms 29. When the valve 29 is opened it is adapted to nest within the cup 23 which shields it from the upward pressure of the water and is maintained in this position by the pressure of the outflowing water acting against the curved surface 22.

Mounted for vertical movement in the lower chamber I1 is a flow control Weighted piston valve 30 provided with a plunger 3| which extends downwardly into the well l2 in slightly spaced relation to the walls thereof. The plunger 3| is connected with the valve 30 by means of a sleeve 32 which is screw threaded onto the upper end of the plunger and a projection 33 formed on the lower face of the valve 30. The plunger 3| is provided with an axially extending passageway 34 which communicates with the chamber I! through ports 35 formed in the sleeve 32 and which is normally closed by a ball valve 36. The valve 30 is guided in its vertical movement by a plurality of radially spaced vanes 31 which slidably engage the wall of the member l5 and between which the water flows when the valve is opened. A pipe 58 controlled by a valve 39 establishes communication between the chamber H and the lower portion of the well lit and is adapted to admit water into the well beneath the plunger at a rate determined by the adjustment of the valve so as to retard the upward movement of the valve 35.

When the valve 25] is opened in order to flush the closet, the water flowing into the chamber ll through the inlet l9, exerts pressure beneath the valve 35 and raises the same at a predetermined rate until it enters and closes the opening l3 defined by the flange 15. This interrupts the fiow of water past the valve 20 and the downward pressure exerted thereon, thus permitting this valve to close by the engagement of the rod 2'! by the valve 30. As soon as the valve 25 closes, the water pressure in the chambers 65 and I! will become equalized and permit the flow control piston valve 35 to descend by gravity to its initial position, the water in the well l2 being displaced by the plunger 3! at a relatively rapid rate through the passageway 34 and ports 35.

When the valve Ell is closed after a flushing operation, a certain amount of water is contained within the pipe M. This water is permitted to slowly drain through a pipe connecting the legs of the pipe l4 and fill the trap in the bowl of the water closet.

If desired, the valve member 35 may be provided with inclined vanes 45, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 so that the water flowing into the chamber ll will impart a rotary motion to the valve as it rises, thus tending to free the plunger 3! in the event it becomes stuck within the well i 2 by corrosion or otherwise.

It will be noted from the foregoing that when the valve 25 is opened a measured quantity of water is permitted to fiow into the bowl of the water closet, such quantity being determined by the time required for the valve 35 to close the opening 98, which time is in turn determined by the adjustment of the valve 39 in the by-pass pipe 38.

In Figs. 5 and 6 a slightly modified construction is illustrated, in which the water enters the lower chamber ll through a tangentially disposed inlet 42 and impinges upon inclined vanes 43 provided on a flow control piston valve 44 which is mounted for vertical and rotary movement within the chamber H. In this particular construction, the valve 44 is formed with an axial bore 45 surrounding a pin 46 fixed to a lower end cap 41. The pin 45 is formed with a plurality of screw threads 48 for engagement by a plurality of dogs 49 which are pivotally mounted on the valve 44 and biased inwardly by springs 50. When the valve 44 is rotated by the action of the water on the vanes 43, they move upwardly along the pin until the valve 44 enters the restricted opening l8 and interrupts the fiow of water, after which it closes the valve 28, in the manner previously described. The screw threads 48 are so shaped that the dogs 55 will engage beneath them when the valve 44 moves upwardly but will permit the dogs to pass over them when the valve descends. In other respects the construction is similar to that described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4.

In the two valves described it is seen that the main valve is opened by the action of the operating handle against the pressure of the water in the chamber 16. This pressure may, however, be such as to make it necessary to apply greater effort than is desirable to open this valve. To overcome this possibility, the construction may be modified as shown in Fig. '7, wherein the central member H3 is divided by annular flanges 5| and 52 into an upper chamber 53, a lower chamber 55, and an intermediate chamber 55, communicating with one another through restricted openings 55 and 5?. Also, in. this construction the main flush valve 25 is provided with a relatively small centrally located bleed valve 58, the stem 59 of which extends through the stem 23 of the main valve and is pivotally connected with the arm 24. This bleed valve controls communication between the upper chamber 53 and ports 60 and the arrangement is such that when the handle 24 is operated the valve 58 will be opened first and immediately relieve the pressure ten-ding to hold the main valve 25 closed. Further movement or the handle 24 will open the main Valve as in the structures previously described. The cup 28 is provided with vertical guides 6| for maintaining the valve 26 in alignment and the central member is also provided with longitudinally extending ribs 52 to guide the weighted flow control valve 38 throughout its range of V r movement.

. In order to allow for a momentary lowering of the pressure in the upper chamber 53, the Weighted piston valve in its lower position passes through the restricted opening 5?. water passing through the inlet l9 can make up for the pressure loss in the chamber 53, which is nearly instantaneous, the valve 36 must pass upward to clear he opening ill. When this occurs, the water will have free passage around this valve and upwardly between the guide ribs 62 until the valve 35 enters the restricted opening where the pressure beneath the valve will force it upwardly into engagement with a pin 63. This pin is slidably mounted in the cup 28 and when thus engaged by the valve 36 will be elevated thereby, together with the main valve 20 and the bleed valve 53. The pressure will now become equalized, allowing the valve 30 to gravitate to its lowermost position as in the structure previously described.

While the several flow control valves have been shown and described as being raised by the force of the water flowing through the member l0, and as returning to their initial positions under the action of gravity, it will be understood that springs or other means may be employed for this purpose. By so doing the valve may be installed in positions at an angle to the vertical.

Other modifications and changes in the proportions and arrangement of the parts may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the nature and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

I claim:

1. A fiush valve comprising a chamber having inlet and outlet openings, a manually operable valve member for controlling said outlet opening, and valve means in said chamber and operated by the pressure of the water flowing therethrough for interrupting the flow of the water therethrough and for subsequently closing said valve member after a predetermined quantity of water has passed through said outlet opening.

Before the 2. A valve comprising an inlet chamber provided with an inlet; an outlet chamber provided with an outlet, said chambers communicating with one another through a restricted opening; a valve member for controlling said outlet; manually operated means for opening said valve member; and means operated by the pressure of the water flowing through said chambers for closing said opening after a predetermined quantity of water has passed therethrough to relieve the pressure of the water acting on said valve member and permit the same to close.

3. A valve comprising an inlet chamber provided with an inlet; an outlet chamber provided with an outlet, said chamber s communicating with one another through a restricted opening; a valve member for controlling said outlet; manually operated means for opening said valve member; means associated with said valve member for preventing the pressure of the water flowing through said outlet from closing said valve member; a piston valve operated by the pressure of the water flowing through said chambers for closing said opening to relieve the pressure of the water acting on said valve member and permit the same to close, and means for retarding the operation of said piston valve to permit a predetermined quantity of water to pass said valve member before the same is closed.

4. A valve comprising an inlet chamber provided with an inlet; an outlet chamber provided with an outlet, said chambers communicating with one another through a restricted opening; a valve member for controlling said outlet; manually operated means for opening said valve member; means associated with said valve member for preventing the pressure of the water flowing through said outlet from closing said valve member; a piston valve operated by the pressure of the water flowing through said chambers for closing said opening to relieve the pressure of the water acting on said valve member and permit the same to close; and a plunger and dash pot for retarding the operation of said piston valve to permit a predetermined quantity of water to pass said valve member before the same is closed. x

5. A valve comprising an inlet chamber provided with an inlet; an outlet chamber provided with an outlet, said chambers communicating with one another through a restricted opening; a valve member for controlling said outlet; manually operated means for opening said valve member, the surface of said valve member toward said outlet being shaped to permit the impact of the water thereagainst as it passes through said outlet to maintain said valve member in an open position; means for shielding the opposite surface of said valve member from the pressure of the water when in an open position; and means operated by the pressure of the water flowing through said chambers for closing said opening after a predetermined quantity of water Has passed therethrough to relieve the pressure of the water acting on said valve member and permit the same to close.

6. A valve comprising an inlet chamber provided with an inlet; an outlet chamber provided with an outlet, said chambers communicating with one another through a restricted opening; a valve member for controlling said outlet; manually operated means for opening said valve member; means associated with said valve member for preventing the pressure of the water flowing through said outlet from closing said valve member; valve means operated by the pressure of the water flowing through said chambers for closing said opening after a predetermined quantity of water has passed therethrough to relieve the pressure of the water acting on said valve member and permit the same to close; and means for controlling the movement of said valve means.

BO FOLKE RANDEL. 

